I thought the Church did an OK job as a relief organization myself though I ain't crazy about giving the Church clothing and such as it ends up at the DI for sale. That "parkas sent to Baghdad" comment got me thinking about the 1000 or so Gulf Coast refugees coming to Salt Lake City just in time for winter. Maybe now would be a good time for me to clean out my closets of ghosts and old coats that I no longer wear or need, and donate them to a local organization who will give the coats to people who need them rather than sell it to them. We regularly give blankets and beer cans to the local animal shelter, but who would be a good organization to give the coats and jackets to? Quoting Kim Hyatt <kimharch@cut.net>:
Furthermore, what actually arrives on site often is not needed or cannot be used ( parkas sent to Baghdad...